Obituaries : Felix Rios; Retired Real Estate Broker, Musician

Felix Rios, a retired Ventura real estate broker who in the 1940s played in bands throughout Southern California, has died. He was 88.

A native of Santa Paula, Rios died at his home Wednesday after a lengthy illness, said his daughter, Celia Rios.

Rios, who played several instruments--including the piano, flute, trombone and drums--began his music career at age 11 by playing in bands in Santa Paula, his daughter said.

As a young man, he played at Santa Barbara’s El Paseo restaurant, which, at the time, was the local hangout for such movie stars as Ginger Rogers. In addition to big band music, he performed Latino and classical music.

“He was really well-known among musicians in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties,” said his wife of 60 years, Gladys, adding that she often sang in her husband’s band and appeared on radio and later TV shows with him.

During World War II, Rios kept his music as a hobby and began to work for a steel company as a machinist, his daughter said.

Later, he was a manager for Singer Sewing Machine Co. in Ventura and, in the early 1960s, he became a self-employed real estate broker. After he retired in 1969, Rios dedicated his time to growing a vegetable garden and making a violin, which was his favorite instrument, Celia Rios said.

“Music was his life,” his daughter said. “Our home was always filled with musical notes.”

Rios was a descendant of the Dominguez family, considered one of California’s founding families.

In addition to his wife and daughter, he is survived by a son, Gerald Rios of Ventura; three grandchildren, two sisters and a brother.

A funeral service will be held Saturday. Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura is handling the arrangements.